1474 AWARD OF THE FISHERY COMMISSION. 



No. 18. 



CUMBERLAND, AT HALIFAX, 



October 30, 1852. 



SIR: Seveial American fishing- vessels having been this season de- 

 tained by Her Majesty's ships employed in protecting the fisheries, for 

 breaches of the convention of 1818 with the United States, which were 

 subsequently condemned in the courts of vice-admiralty, under the 59 

 Geo. Ill, cap. 38, 1 have the honor to request the instructions of the 

 lords commissioners of the admiralty as to the mode in which the pro- 

 ceeds of the said vessels are to be disposed of. 



By the Queen's proclamation for the distribution of prize-money, the 

 net proceeds of captures, seizures for breaches of the customs and navi- 

 gation laws, &c., &c., not otherwise especially apportioned, are divided 

 among the crews of Her Majesty's ships; but by the colonial act, 6 

 Will. IV, cap. 8, clause 6, an abstract of which is contained on page 6 

 of the inclosed pamphlet, one-half is apportioned to the colonial treas- 

 ury, and the other half to the officer or person seizing the same. 



Four of the seizures in question were made by the Netley and Tele- 

 graph, tenders of the Cumberland, and I am desirous of instructions 

 as to whether, according to the former practice observed in cases of 

 capture, the ship sending out the tender is entitled to share in the 

 proceeds of their seizure. In two of these cases, I should add, the 

 tender was on detached service, under the orders of Commander Camp- 

 bell, of the Devastation. 



The proceeds are now in the hands of the comptroller of the customs 

 at Prince Edward's Island, and St. John, New Brunswick, and I request 

 their lordships will be pleased to direct what proportions of the seizures 

 I am to obtain, and to describe the mode of distribution. 

 I have, &c., 



G. F. SEYMOUR, 

 Vice-Admiral and Commander -in- Chief. 



The SECRETARY OF THE ADMIRALTY, &c., tfcc., &c. 



No. 19. 



COUNTY OF BONA VENTURE, 

 DISTRICT OF GASPE, 



October 18, 1852. 



SIR: We, the undersigned magistrates, merchants, shipowners, and 

 other inhabitants of this county and district, deem it our duty to make 

 known to you the high sense we entertain of the valuable services you 

 have rendered to the inhabitants generally on this coast during the past 

 summer. To your untiring perseverance and active zeal we owe the 

 disappearance of American fishermen from the waters of the Bay of 

 Chaleurs; and for the first time during the last fifteen years our waters 

 have teemed with mackerel. The benefits which you have conferred on 

 our fishermen can only be appreciated and understood by those who, 

 like yourself, have studied the subject, and been eye-witnesses of the 

 evils arising from the encroachments of strangers who have no earthly 

 right to trespass on our fishing-grounds. 



To the present advisers of our most gracious Sovereign we are in- 

 debted for this tardy and long-sought for act of justice, as well as for 



